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mariakureads's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Ok. A book this good shouldn't have taken me as long as it did but trying to read this at night in a home that makes weird sounds and then randomly nothing but silence creeped me enough to just read this during the day which thanks to work took longer than what even I wanted.
The duo POV from the two MCs took me a bit to get their names and timelines straight since one timeline is in the 80's and another in 2017 but once I had it sorted out, it was interesting to have both voices alternating chapters. One giving the reader the buildup and world building and the other working backwards to get where the other is leading.
St. James did an amazing job of keeping me in my toes. I really thought I had it figured out but the surprise twist was something I didn't see coming and I love that element of surprise. Honestly a fantastic read.
The duo POV from the two MCs took me a bit to get their names and timelines straight since one timeline is in the 80's and another in 2017 but once I had it sorted out, it was interesting to have both voices alternating chapters. One giving the reader the buildup and world building and the other working backwards to get where the other is leading.
St. James did an amazing job of keeping me in my toes. I really thought I had it figured out but the surprise twist was something I didn't see coming and I love that element of surprise. Honestly a fantastic read.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Murder, Death, and Violence
Minor: Child death, Infidelity, Sexual assault, and Rape
decembermagpie's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Blood, Confinement, Rape, Murder, Sexual violence, and Homophobia
boba_n_books's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Told in a dual timeline, we follow Viv in 1982 and her niece, Carly, in 2017 as their lives follow a disturbingly similar path in the town of Fell and at the Sun Down Motel. Viv disappeared back in 1982 and has not been found since. No one else seems to care what happened to Viv, so Carly decides to go to the Sun Down and figure it out for herself. Back in 1982, Viv is trying to figure out why the Sun Down is haunted and what its ghosts are trying to tell her.
I was held in suspense the entire time wondering what happened to Viv and how it's related to Carly in 2017, and the ending does not disappoint. I flew this creepy, paranormal novel! This is the perfect story to get you in the mood for spooky season.
I was held in suspense the entire time wondering what happened to Viv and how it's related to Carly in 2017, and the ending does not disappoint. I flew this creepy, paranormal novel! This is the perfect story to get you in the mood for spooky season.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Death, and Violence
Moderate: Child death, Rape, and Sexual assault
Minor: Cursing, Death of parent, and Cancer
maregred's review
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Murder
Moderate: Blood, Violence, Infidelity, and Stalking
Minor: Rape, Death of parent, Sexual violence, and Injury/Injury detail
thecriticalreader's review
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
The Sun Down Motel by Simone St. James is one of the worst books I’ve ever read. I bought it because I’ve seen quite a few people give it rave reviews, but I have to seriously disagree with their opinions.
The book is split between two perspectives: the first is Viv, a twenty-year-old who relocates to Fell, NY in 1982 and mysteriously vanishes that same year. The second is Carly, Viv’s niece who moves to Fell thirty-five years later to investigate her aunt’s life and disappearance. I kept mixing up whose point of view I was reading because they both lack a distinct voice or personality. They are practically indistinguishable, as their only distinguishing trait is that they like true crime. Carly makes it known that she’s “not like other girls,” because she likes to read and learn about true crime. Any depth they have to them is filled to the brim with pure stupidity. They practically beg to get arrested, attacked, murdered, etc. as they wander about “investigating” murders with a wanton disregard for safety (of themselves and others) and the law. They justify their misinformed and risky “investigations” by claiming that they are trying to bring justice to overlooked murdered women, which is the pathetic excuse thriller authors use to distract the readers from the fact that their protagonists have neither the right nor reason to irresponsibly play amateur detective.
The only reason Viv and Carly get anywhere in their endeavors is that the author sets up every possible plot convenience for them, most of them so ludicrously implausible that my eyes got stuck in the back of my head from rolling them so hard. I could go into specifics, but I’m afraid I would lose brain cells from recalling such stupidity.
If you have any respect for yourself or real murder victims, don’t read this book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Stalking, Grief, Misogyny, Violence, and Murder
Moderate: Sexual harassment, Kidnapping, Infidelity, Death of parent, and Terminal illness
Minor: Sexual violence and Sexism
nykolereads's review
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Murder, and Death
Moderate: Rape and Sexual assault
Minor: Death of parent, Cancer, Child death, and Stalking
bek_p87's review
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
This was a disappointing read. I think I would've enjoyed it more if there were either no ghosts, or if the ghosts played a material role in the story - as it was, the ghosts were simply just there. The story was slow to get going, and I was probably halfway through before I picked up the thread of the plot. I kept reading because I needed to know what happened, but then when it reached the conclusion that had been signposted a fair distance out, I was left unsatisfied. The prose was unsophisticated at times, and - while this is a tiny insignificant irrelevant plot point - I really didn't like the focus on these two young women's "virginity".
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Stalking, and Violence
Minor: Rape
j_squaredd's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Blood, and Violence
Moderate: Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Rape, and Child death
Minor: Death of parent and Cancer
bek67's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Definitely some creep factor with this book which is just what I wanted. I liked the time line, switching back between 1982 and 2017. Definitely a twist I wasn't expecting in regard to missing Aunt Vivian. I did get irritated with some of the ridiculously stupid decisions made by Vivian and Carly, hence only 3.5 stars.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Murder, Stalking, Violence, and Death
Minor: Rape, Sexual violence, and Sexual assault
genevieveokeeffe's review
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder
Moderate: Violence and Sexual violence
Minor: Gun violence, Stalking, Grief, and Death of parent